Scenes from the 2010 Tour de France

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Alberto Contador of Spain is reflected in the sunglasses of Egoi Martinez of Spain as the riders wait to take the start of the 14th stage of the Tour de France from Revel to Ax Trois Domaines, France, on July 18. Christophe Ena/AP

Three horses, their riders wearing the overall leader's yellow jersey, the best climber's dotted jersey and the best sprinter's green jersey, ride along the pack during the 11th stage of the Tour de France from Sisteron and Bourg-les-Valences, France, on July 15. Christophe Ena/AP

A pack of the riders cycles through the Mas d'Azil cave during the 15th stage of the Tour de France from Pamiers and Bagneres-de-Luchon, on July 19. Eric Gaillard/Reuters

Saxo Bank's team rider and then-race leader Andy Schleck of Luxembourg looks at a lamb before the start of the eleventh stage of the Tour de France from Sisteron and Bourg-les-Valence, on July 15. Eric Gaillard/Reuters

Astana's Alberto Contador of Spain celebrates retaining his leader's yellow jersey on the podium after the 16th stage of the Tour de France from Bagneres-de-Luchon and Pau, France, on July 20. Francois Lenoir/Reuters

The pack climbs towards Tourmalet pass during the 16th stage of the Tour de France from Bagneres-de-Luchon and Pau, France, on July 20. Bas Czerwinski/AP

Overall leader Alberto Contador of Spain (front r.) rides next to teammate Andriy Grivko of the Ukraine, during a training on the second rest day of the Tour de France on July 21. Bas Czerwinski/AP

A woman applauds as the pack passes during the 15th stage of the Tour de France from Pamiers to Bagneres-de-Luchon, France, on July 19. Christophe Ena/Reuters

Jurgen van de Walle of Belgium, Lance Armstrong of the US, Sandy Casar of France and Carlos Barredo of Spain (l. to r.) climb towards Tourmalet pass during the 16th stage of the Tour de France on July 20. Christophe Ena/AP

On July 15, Andy Schleck of Luxembourg, wearing the overall leader's yellow jersey, Thor Hushovd of Norway, wearing the best sprinter's green jersey, and Robert Geesink of The Netherlands, wearing the best young rider's white jersey (l. to r.) talk prior to the start of the 11th stage of the Tour de France in Sisteron, France. Bas Czerwinski/AP

Astana team rider Alberto Contador of Spain reads a newspaper during a rest day of the Tour de France in Pau, France, on July 21. Jacky Naegelen/Reuters

Andy Schleck of Luxembourg signs autographs as he leaves for a training ride on the second rest day of the Tour de France on July 21. Bas Czerwinkski/AP

Pierrick Fedrigo of France crosses the finish line to win the 16th stage of the Tour de France on July 20. Laurent Rebours/AP

The pack passes a cobblestone section during the third stage of the Tour de France cycling race from Wanze, Belgium, to Arenberg, France, on July 6. Christphe Ena/AP

Radioshack rider Lance Armstrong of the US arrives for a training session during a rest day of the Tour de France cycling race in Morzine, France, on July 12. Eric Gaillard/Reuters

Omega Pharma team rider Mario Aerts of Belgium climbs to Morzine-Avoriaz past a cycling fan dressed as the devil during the eighth stage of the Tour de France cycling race between Station des Rousses and Morzine-Avoriaz, France, on July 11. Jacky Naegelen/Reuters

A man waves a flag as he sits on top of a larger-then-life bicycle during the eighth stage of the Tour de France from Station des Roussesto Morzine-Avoriaz, France, on July 11. Christophe Ena/AP

A helicopter hovers over the pack with George Hincapie of the US (front r.), Levi Leipheimer of the US (c. with golden shoes), Cadel Evans of Australia (wearing the overall leader's yellow jersey), Alexandre Vinokourov of Kazakhstan (l. of Evans), and Ivan Basso of Italy (rear l.), as the riders climb towards Colombiere pass during the ninth stage of the Tour de France on July 13. Bas Czerwinski/AP

An acrobat balances his bicycle on a street light in Tournus prior to the start of the seventh stage of the Tour de France from Tournus and Station des Rousses, France, on July 10. Christophe Ena/AP

Fabian Cancellara of Switzerland, wearing the overall leader's yellow jersey on July 7, eats during the fourth stage of the Tour de France from Cambrai to Reims, France. Christophe Ena/AP

Seven-time Tour de France winner Lance Armstrong spends some time with his family prior to the prologue of the Tour de France on July 3. Christophe Ena/AP

Riders fell on cobblestone streets in the third stage on July 6. Eight miles of the tricky surface was included in the 132-mile race to test riders’ skill. Eric Gaillard/Reuters

Alexandr Pliuschin of Moldavia loads up with water bottles for his teammates from the chase car on July 8 during the fifth stage. ‘Servants’ also assist star riders by riding just ahead of them to create a slipstream behind.Bas Czerwinski/AP

The Tour is arguably the world’s biggest spectator event, with millions lining the race routes, some wearing Tour-themed garb like this man photographed on July 6.Bogdan Cristel/Reuters

The main body of riders is the peloton, French for ‘little ball’ or ‘platoon.’ Twenty-two teams of nine riders each began the race July 3. This scene is from Stage 2, Brussels to Spa, Belgium. Bogdan Cristel/Reuters

Alessandro Petacchi of Italy (second from r.) zips ahead to win the fourth stage on July 7. Early stages are on flat or rolling landscapes. Soon, the mountain stages will arrive. Francois Lenoir/Reuters

Lloyd Mondory of France crosses the finish on foot after crashing during Stage 1 on July 4. A rider who crashes within two miles of the finish is awarded the same time as the group he was with when he crashed. Bas Czerwinski/AP

Tony Martin of Germany crossed the finish line of the 5.5-mile section of the race on July 3 in second place. Time-trial bikes are mostly carbon fiber; note the thin handlebars.Laurent Rebours/AP

José Iván Gutiérrez of Spain is photographed on July 8 as he leads a breakaway during the fifth stage (section) of the 22-day, 2,263-mile race.Bas Czerwinski/AP

Alberto Contador of Spain heads down the ramp to take a fifth place in the prologue to the Tour de France cycling race, an individual time trial over 8.9 kilometers (5.5 miles) in the port city of Rotterdam, Netherlands, on July 3. Christophe Ena/AP

Cervelo rider Andreas Klier of Germany (l.) falls on the cobblestones during the third stage of the Tour de France cycling race between Wanze and Arenberg-Porte du Hainaut, France, on July 6. Eric Gaillard/Reuters

Andy Schleck of Luxembourg crosses the finish line to win the eighth stage of the Tour de France from Station des Rousses to Morzine-Avoriaz, France, on July 11. Laurent Rebours/AP

Thor Hushovd of Norway, wearing the best sprinter's green jersey, speeds down Colombiere pass during the ninth stage of the Tour de France from Morzine-Avoriaz to Saint-Jean-de-Maurienne, France, on July 13. Bas Czerwinski/AP

Mark Cavendish of Britain crosses the finish line to win the fifth stage of the Tour de France from Epernay to Montargis, France, on July 8. Bas Czerwinkski/AP

The decision by US prosecutors to drop a two-year doping investigation of legendary Tour de France champ Lance Armstrong could mark a stalemate in the debate over how to deal with the use of anabolic steroids in sport.